I was very impressed by the Matt Tully column about Justin Forkner. But from what I hear from people who know Roy Schroeder he is a hot head who marches to the beat of the union drummer. Also, his kids have attended Catholic schools and one still does. Maybe I'm picky, but if someone with children is going to run for the IPS School Board, ALL their kids should attend school in IPS.
The union drummer bothers me more than the Catholic Schools. I can understand the mindset of wanting to be part of the process that makes IPS a district you would send your kids to, even if you wouldn't send them there now. KWIM?
I am voting for Annie Roof. Her kids are in IPS school and she talks plain and to the point.
Honestly I have some question on her views of the HS level education. She does not seem to understand todays middle/high school students but is does listen.
Re: "Maybe I'm picky, but if someone with children is going to run for the IPS School Board, ALL their kids should attend school in IPS."
Doesn't him NOT sending his kids too IPS show an intelligence not seen on the board currently? If he can afford to send them to Catholic school then why not send them there?
I don't mean to offend with above comment. I am just wondering why he shoudl subject his kids to the gang influence, drugs, disrepsect and profanity running rampant at IPS schools. (Yes, I work in IPS too.) It seems logical to not want to subject your kids to that if you can avoid it. It is not denying reality, it is acceptance of it and seeing it for what it is. (IMHO!)
Possibly Mr. Schroeder sends his ONE child to parochial school because they offer what the child needs whereas IPS does not! His other child's needs can be fulfilled beautifully by IPS schools. I call this good parenting. Hooray for the Schroeder parents for putting their children first. There is no problem with good parenting - we need more of that!
What views do you question? What does she not understand? (I'm a supporter, just curious if I've missed something.)
In listening to her. I do not believe she understands the H.S. She does not seem to understand that at the H.S. level the parents are failing. They do not participate and many get mad when you force them to particate. She seems to think these kids are not pulled by their own work, their own problems, neighborhood problems, etc.
She is a very active parent and cannot understand that in IPS she is a rare. The types of students her kids go to school with is rare. When kids get older (at least in this district) parents start relying on the kids to bring in money and are not active.
In addition she does not seem to be a big proponent of athletics (I could be wrong) but just from the comments I have heard. I think if athletics is the hook than we need to keep them. Since, closing of the football program at Washington. I have watched and tried to stop (with no success) as three kids droped out and two others have shut down. She stated the time I met her that she agreed if kids were not participating the program should be shut down. There are small towns that have only 20 or less kids. Use comparable in enrollment figures before saying we need extreme numbers. Besides how much in tax funding will have to pay to support those kids on welfare over the years because we pulled the hook for them. Cut the coaching staff in half (of teams), cut the pay in half (without certain numbers) but keep the teams (hook). The community needs them in the long run.
These are cultural things that need to be changed (somehow) but at least acknowledge they exist of kids being pulled by other things at the HS level and parents relying on them.
Again, there are anough other positives for me to get my vote. I just hope she investigates (these are NOT the same students she went to HS with over at HOWE in the 90's).
IPS is a lot like that elephant examined by the three blind men, each describes the elephant based on what he felt touching a specific part, and unable to see the whole thing they didn't have a clear view of the whole. Within IPS there are schools that are doing a wonderful job, there are teachers who perform miracles, there are fabulous administrators who really care about kids, but there is also the other end of the spectrum. We need a board that knows this, and just doesn't blithely go along with any scheme presented to them. People who are willing to stand up to Dr. White when he is wrong. Schroeder has already done that when Dr. White called him a liar, and tried to sweep the issue under the rug. He returned the next meeting with the proof that what he said was true, something the board just blindly skipped over and Dr. White managed to miss, what an odd coincidence.
INDIANAPOLIS — Already-sour relations between Indiana’s chief education policymaker and the state’s largest teachers’ union seemed to reach a breaking point Thursday morning.
Blaming a lack of support from teachers’ unions, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett said the state is ending its pursuit of as much as $250 million available through a competitive grant program funded by the federal stimulus package.
After missing the cut the first time, Indiana won’t submit an application in the second round of selections for the $4.4 billion Race to the Top program intended to help states advance ambitious education reforms.
Bennett, a Republican, said Indiana would not have stood a chance since its application would have lacked union support.
“I received notice yesterday that the Indiana State Teachers Association is unwilling to join me for an open and transparent discussion regarding union support for vital components of Indiana’s Race to the Top application,” Bennett said in a statement Thursday.
He was referencing a meeting he proposed for April 27, in which he would sit down with the leaders of Indiana’s two largest teachers’ unions to try and hash out their differences and agree on what to include in the Race to the Top application. Media were invited to attend, but Department of Education and teachers’ union staffers were not.
“Without support from the union that represents more than 90 percent of Indiana’s school districts, our application will not be competitively positioned. Therefore, Indiana will not apply for Phase 2 funding,” Bennett’s statement concluded.
I hate that the union puts itself in the position of anti-reform. I think the public gets the idea that most teachers don't believe in reform and/or don't want to be a part of reform. I think we may disagree on many particulars, but I think only a very small minority don't think there is much room for systemic improvement in Indiana education (as opposed to non-systemic variables such as funding, parent involvement, etc. that we can't control).
The union did not put itself into the position. It was the Dr. Bennett who wanted a meeting with only the head of the union (no staff) and the media.
He was going to try a bully tactic that would look worse if the meeting had happened. That type of media circus would have had no benefit except to make the teachers out to be the bad guy. Even worse than this announcment.
The real criminal in the room is Dr. Bennett and the IDOE and theier lack of diplomacy. The paper is anti-union and Dr. Bennett and his wife are charter proponents. So, we know the slant will always favor them in a STAR article.
They will not tell the total truth of the tactics being used towards educators by this administration (from Mitch down to Bennett and IDOE).
This has been an issue way longer than Bennett or Mitch. I'm in my thirties, and as long as I can remember, the teacher's union has been against every kind of systemic education reform I've ever read/heard suggested? Am I forgetting something they have supported? Can anyone else think of one? (Again, systemic reform, not society/funding reforms that would make the current system less need of reform.)
I don't think most educated people really believe the teacher's unions represent teachers anymore anyway. Sure, they represent politically far-left leaning teachers, but especially in states like Indiana, that's a minority of teachers. It's not like Mitch barely won.
"I'm in my thirties, and as long as I can remember, the teacher's union has been against every kind of systemic education reform I've ever read/heard"
ANY teacher that would be for reform that makes a student's test score the deciding factor on who gets to keep their job is an idiot. Kids don't care that ISTEP is this week? Why should they?? What's in it for them? Today's kids only know what they see and how they are rewarded. That's not a knock just a fact in this test-crazy environment. The mere fact that teachers allowed politicians to make teacher strikes illegal is a joke. Why have a union if you have little power in negotiating? People seem to forget cops and Peyton Manning belong to unions too! Big deal! We pay overpay mediocre athletes and entertainers all the time on OUR dime.
Just in from the Indiana Business Journal: The Indiana Department of Education has withdrawn from round two of the Race to the Top federal grant program citing lack of support from the Indiana State Teacher's Union (ITSA). It gets worse: the ITSA declined to meet with Superintendent of Public Education Tony Bennet or his staff to discuss the application. To date, the state has cut $279 million from school budgets. Were Indiana to get a Race to the Top grant, Indiana stans to receive $250 million in funding, blunting the effects of the tax shortfall.
Editor's Note: One of the evaluation criteria for President Obama's Race to the Top program is union support and was a key item lacking in many of the states that lost in round one. Superintendent Bennett's decision makes sense as Indiana's Race to the Top proposal is doomed without support from the ITSA, which clearly is in left field on this issue.
You have to wonder how much more Indiana voters will take from the ITSA. Perhaps it's time for Indiana to consider something like Florida's Bill 6?
Fellow teachers, we are wasting our precious money when we pay union dues. I resigned two years ago, and I've not regretted my decision. Unless you're a marginal teacher who's just putting in hours, the union is little more than a rapist of teachers.
Re: "People seem to forget cops and Peyton Manning belong to unions too! Big deal! We pay overpay mediocre athletes and entertainers all the time on OUR dime."
We are not cops, not athletes, not entertainers, not auto workers, not coal miners; we are professionals.
Act like a professional. Get over the union junk. If we don't like our employer, then we are professionals who can find another employer.
I personally don't want some 'bag of wind' union leader speaking for me. I will speak for myself at all times. If I should find myself needing assistance in dealing with my employer, then I'll hire an attorney.
WOW! I read both Dr. Bennett's letter to the ISTA and Nate Schnellenberger's reponse. I came away thinking Dr. B is an idiot to think that ISTA will blindly support everything he says without any input. His letter was demeaning and insulting to all who work in our noble profession. I love my job, but it's harder every day.
It sucks that the union wouldn't even meet with him though, right? I mean that's a lot of money, and the union wouldn't even meet to discuss it. That just bugs me. Do you know what we as teachers could have done with that kind of money?
"It sucks that the union wouldn't even meet with him though, right? I mean that's a lot of money, and the union wouldn't even meet to discuss it. That just bugs me. Do you know what we as teachers could have done with that kind of money?"
Ok, is that what you really think? Please know the facts before you make such statements. The union wanted to meet to talk about the proposal, but Dr. Bennett wanted to conduct the meeting with little input from teacher representatives and with media in the room. How do you really have meaningful conversation about such an important topic in that manner? Did he really want to talk and work out the kinks or bully teachers into accepting it? Do you really think those teachers are not interested in securing the dollars as well? Come on...maybe you and some of the others that have so many opinions about unions should try and schedule a meeting and work it out...
Sounds like Tony got mad because they wouldn't play by his rules so he took his ball and went home. Deja vu? It's too bad that we can't all operate as though we have the same mission-educating the children.
I've been in IPS for eight years, and I've seen the union in action. Most of that union action was directed toward covering for some lame butt teachers who were griping, whining, and complaining because their principals had told them to do some hall duty, attend an after-school meeting, etc. Frankly, the only times I witnessed any union action was when some teacher complained about his/her supposed entitlements being abused. After a few years of watching this type union action, I decided to keep my money and leave the union. The straw that broke the camel's back was looking at fellow teachers wearing those awful black t-shirts with some union rant printed across the front and back. I wanted to disassociate myself from that image as quickly as possible.
Samantha Adair-White is the wife of Jeffrey White. They have a child who attends IPS School 2 and they live in Butler-Tarkington. If we can't have Jeffrey, lets vote for her. If she wins, thats a slap to Dr. White's face. As for the at-large seat, Leroy Robinson is a Teacher. Therefore, another voice on the board.
"It sucks that the union wouldn't even meet with him though, right? I mean that's a lot of money, and the union wouldn't even meet to discuss it. That just bugs me. Do you know what we as teachers could have done with that kind of money?"
First the union would meet with Dr. Bennett. He wanted only the president and the media their. No staffers. That kind of tactic is only a bully tactic to make one side look bad.
The union was willing to meet and discuss (with staff from both sides there and NO media). That is kind of meeting iw when true bargaining occurs with give and take.
In terms of the Race to the Top money. It had strings. It can be used only for reform. Not to save jobs or current programs. So, the loss would not have effected the current budget cuts going on anyway. Except maybe those employees might have been eligible to work into into the new reform programs.
I am glad that the union stood up and said we are not putting our signature on the bottom of a blank paper. Not knowing what would be on it.
To others above who are leaving the union. Just try to hire a lawyer when you are falsely accused of something by a student or administrator. It is expensive(I had it happen during my 10th yr of teaching, I think god for the union. Finally came out that the kid was upset about a grade I gave them and made up the story to bribe me to change it. Without the union I could not have afforded known the legal rights to defend myself. The district sided with the parents saying they would rather error than be wrong. We ended up going after the parents and kid and of course got nothing because they had nothing. Did clear my name though.) Since that time I am finishing my second decade of coaching and teaching. I thank the union. Even if only used that once during my teaching career it was worth it.
Yes, there are things about the union I do not like. The idea though is to speak up and change things from within.
(BTW: It is 3 a.m. and I cannot sleep but am tired. Afer reading these comments tonight I had to reply. Usually don't! I am sure there are probably grammar errors and spelling errors in this post. Before others begin to get critical realize this is a sort of passionate response and tired. Forgive my errors that I am not seeing at this late hour and just look at content please.)
BTW: A down to earch and person who is not afraid to question Dr. White if you live in the district.
Please consider voting for Annie Roof. She would be a great asset to the board (she would not be a rubber stamp). She has a website (cannot think of the name though). Look it up to find information on her. I get the feeling from talking with her she would be a friend to the kids and staff. She does not seem to favor (from her rhetoric) the bully tactics currently being used by Dr. White.
This is just my opinion. She is running for an at-large seat on the board.
One of the questions put to the candidates at the MKNA Candidates forum Thursday was, essentially, “If elected how did we plan to work with the Superintendent, Dr. White?”. I disagree with the premise of the question. The Board is the boss. Dr. White, despite all appearances, is an employee of IPS hired by the Board. The question then is, “How will Dr. White work with the candidate who assumes the District 3 seat?”. It well past time that the elected representatives of the voters and taxpayers in this district make clear it is the administrators responsibility to work for the Board and not the reverse.
I'm a parent, and I'm voting for annie because she's the only at-large candidate that acknowledges the contradiction that exists in IPS in complaining about lack of parental involvement while shutting out the concerns of involved parents and treating them with hostility. Every parent I know in IPS has encountered this issue, and yet she's the only candidate who even acknowledges the problem exists.
I want to clarify that my comment above was in regard to the at-large candidates only. I have read/listened to Mr. Schroeder and other district 3 candidates acknowledge this contradiction, but I'm not in district 3. :)
Indy Star Sunday print-only: Interview with Eugene White
What most concerns Dr. Eugene White, superintendent of Indianapolis Public Schools?
"How can we improve our reading programs so that we have better performance? How can we improve the culture of the school district to eliminate those negative variables that tend to contaminate or pollute the quality of instruction, the quality of the environment?
"I think about that a lot. I think about, how can we continue to provide the kind of programs that parents want and the students really want to take? How can we get the best quality of teachers for them?"
In an exclusive interview with Star columnist Matthew Tully, White touches on a wide range of subjects, from being raised by a single, teenage mother in Alabama, to his best and worst decisions while running Indiana's largest school district.
For the full interview, pick up the print edition of Sunday's Indianapolis Star.
Teachers unions need a hug. After all, they're having a really bad year.
So bad that their members are lashing out -- blasting Education Secretary Arne Duncan after he questioned the effectiveness of teachers colleges, criticizing President Barack Obama for his approach to education reform, etc. Advertisement
One thing that rattled the unions was being marginalized by Obama after having supported his election with contributions and volunteers. They must have assumed that they were backing a defender of the status quo because during the campaign Obama had criticized No Child Left Behind, the Bush administration's signature education initiative. But once in office, Obama launched education reforms that were in the same spirit as NCLB. The unions must feel duped.
For instance, teachers unions bristled during the Bush years over an expanded federal role in public education, an overreliance on standardized tests to measure student performance, and an accountability system that threatened to shut down failing schools.
Obama continued the first two items. And, with regard to the third, he reconfigured the notion of accountability to focus on individual teachers. He wants to pay good teachers more than mediocre ones, and determine which is which by how students perform.
Meanwhile, some liberals -- perhaps emboldened by Obama's reforms -- are starting to scrutinize teachers unions. They include longtime journalist Carl Bernstein, who, in a cable television exchange that went viral on the Internet, verbally pummeled American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten. The confrontation took place after New York flunked out of the Obama administration's Race to the Top competition for hundreds of millions of federal education dollars because teachers unions refused to sign on to the state's action plan.
"The perception is that you all, over the years, have put job security in front of the welfare of kids," Bernstein told Weingarten. "There is something to that perception."
Yes, there is.
Teachers unions need to understand they're overplaying their hand. At a time when many Americans are out of work or taking furlough days or accepting pay cuts, there is little sympathy for organizations that -- by virtue of brute political force -- keep demanding more public money and less accountability without giving an inch.
The public schools operate on our dime. The students are our kids, and whether they succeed will help determine our country's future. This makes us major stakeholders who deserve to have a voice in how this enterprise goes forward
Who the Heck is Ruben Navarette? What does he know about the challenges of teaching? The utter lack of respect from the public, the students, our boss?
Leroy Robinson will be just another Bobble-head School Board member. He served on the Board from 2007-08 (he was appointed to serve when Olgen Williams resigned) and NEVER challenged or questioned the IPS administration and he NEVER voted against a recommendation. If you look at his contributors, they are all pals of Dr. White.
His kids attend school in Pike, he teaches in Pike, and he seems more interested in self promotion than public service.
I attended the forum at #84 and listened to the candidates on Amos Brown--
At the forum and on Amos--Josefa Beyer and Glen Sandifer came across as the most intelligent of the District 3 candidates and both seem to understand the issues. Josefa was strong in her support of teachers and public education but also admitted that the district is broken. The rest seemed rather clueless and very one dimensional.
On Amos--Ronnie Hampton and Annie Roof came across as the strongest candidates--very knowledgeable and very willing to challenge the status quo. I agree with the poster above who said Leroy Robinson seems more interested in self promotion, and Samantha Adair-White came across as a woman with a personal axe to grind.
I agree with the post above regarding Ronnie Hampton - he was articulate, plus he is an IPS parent who knows the issues.
On Amos re/the at-large candidates who SHOWED up, Annie Roof came off disjointed, IMO. At one point, she was talking and completely forgot/lost her point mid-sentence.
The thing about Annie is she's an IPS parent, not an education professional, professional speaker, professional writer, etc. She's obviously very intelligent, informed, and involved. So, as a fellow parent, when I heard her on Amos, all I could think was how much better she sounded than *I* would have sounded. But I agree that Hampton was more articulate.
I would like to say something here. I will put more information under the candidates forum. In regards to Amos Brown, yes I was very disjointed. First of all, I have never done radio. Secondly, I was unprepared. I did not hear about the radio show until 9pm the night before. When I was listening to the district three candidates, I heard Amos say the at-large candidates will be there the following day. That's how I found out. My address was incorrect at the election board, and I never received an invitation. I emailed Amos, and he was very kind, and told me I could attend, this was at 10pm. My days are filled taking care of my three year old, so yes, I was unprepared. And though I wish I had done a better job, I am proud of the job that I did. I went and did something completely out of my element, completely unprepared, knowing everyone else would be, in a room of strangers. And I did it because I believe in myself and the job that I could do and the difference I could make as a board member. Do not judge someone on those qualifications, simply because she lost her thought on a radio show. I can not say a bad thing about the other candidates. I have met all but one, and they are wonderful people. Even though we are all competing against one another there is a comradery amongst us. That being said, I became a candidate because I was already involved. I was already visible at the board meetings and have been for the last three years. I did not become involved because I became a candidate. If I do not win, I will still be there. I will still be standing up for our students, teachers, and parents. Where will everyone else be?
There were only ten people at the forum held at School 84. I am voting for Samantha Adair-White. Her daughter and my son attend IPS Center for Inquiry School 2. She is actively involved at School 2 and if she has an ax to grind, let the grinding begin.
By AMOS BROWN III Published: Thursday, February 4, 2010 11:38 AM EST The Indianapolis Board of School Commissioners voted last week to accept Superintendent Dr. Eugene White’s recommendation granting raises to four highly paid IPS administrators.
The School Board also voted to grant the superintendent a three percent raise.
Both actions by the IPS School Board were wrong.
The Indianapolis Public Schools aren’t Microsoft, Wal-Mart or Warren Buffett’s company. IPS, like nearly every school district in Indiana and many nationwide, and like many non-profits and for-profit entities, is facing severe economic pressures and stresses.
Indiana property tax caps are negatively impacting IPS’ transportation and maintenance budgets. And IPS’ loss of thousands of students in recent years, plus the Great Recession’s impact on state government revenues, has IPS facing between $20-$30 million in funding shortfalls.
IPS dodged scores of teacher layoffs this school year because of the one-time injection of federal stimulus money. This coming school year, IPS won’t be as fortunate.
IPS’ layoffs impact newer, younger teachers – many with the thrill and desire to teach using techniques and methods that engage today’s MTV/BET, Facebook, Wii-oriented, texting-tested students.
White said the four veteran IPS administrators deserved raises, pushing their salaries around $100,000 because they were taking on more responsibility.
Speaking Monday on WTLC-AM1310’s “Afternoons with Amos,” IPS Board President Michael Brown said the four administrators didn’t receive “raises.” Instead they were moving to “a different job responsibility with a different (higher) authorized salary.”
That may be true, but its semantics are not relevant to today’s economic realities.
How many of you reading this took on more responsibility at your job? Did you get a raise for that? If you’re like me and most Americans and Hoosiers, the answer is no.
When times were good, raises like those OK’d by IPS were fine. When times are hard, they’re an insult!
Board President Brown and White say that the other school districts pay their administrators more money. That keeping up with the Jones’ mentality doesn’t fly in these tough economic times.
In his State of the Union speech, President Barack Obama called out the nation’s colleges and universities, urging them to show restraint in their tuition and costs.
Our public schools should show the same restraint. In this era of tight school budgets, school administrations and school boards should show leadership and freeze administrative salaries and if the budget woes are tough, roll some of those salaries back until the fiscal crisis passes.
The media industry, including the media I work for, have had salaries and raises frozen, even rolled back to weather the economic storm. If we in media can do it, so can those in education.
I'm going to vote for Justin Forkner, because unlike 99% of the other candidates, he doesn't have a kid in IPS and doesn't have a one-school agenda.
Also, he seems more capable of handling the pressure of $26 million dollar budget cuts.
Do you really want to allow someone who has NO experience with fiscal responsibility of a $580 million budget handling that money? For that matter, when they have their executive board meetings (closed doors) where Eugene White pressures the board into doing things that he wants to do, are the other candidates really going to stand up for what they believe for or just become a bobble-head for him like they always do.
For that matter, do you really want the PTA/PTO running the school board? Because that's what you have now. And that's what the PTA/PTO is for.
Finally, I don't want a school board commissioner who has the goals of sitting in the library reading to kids.
Josefa Beyer for the District 3 seat
ReplyDeleteAnnie Roof for the At-large seat
There is a candidate forum Thursday, April 22, 6:30 pm at School 84.
Justin Forkner - At Large
ReplyDeleteRoy Schroeder - District 3
I was very impressed by the Matt Tully column about Justin Forkner. But from what I hear from people who know Roy Schroeder he is a hot head who marches to the beat of the union drummer. Also, his kids have attended Catholic schools and one still does. Maybe I'm picky, but if someone with children is going to run for the IPS School Board, ALL their kids should attend school in IPS.
ReplyDeleteThe union drummer bothers me more than the Catholic Schools. I can understand the mindset of wanting to be part of the process that makes IPS a district you would send your kids to, even if you wouldn't send them there now. KWIM?
ReplyDeleteThat said, I really like everything I've seen/read on Annie Roof.
ReplyDeleteANYONE OTHER THAN MICHAEL BROWN!!!
ReplyDeleteSchroeder had an event last week end and actually talked to teachers. He seems to believe in local control of schools, and parent participation.
ReplyDeleteI had his daughter in class, so I know he has at least one child in IPS.
I am voting for Annie Roof. Her kids are in IPS school and she talks plain and to the point.
ReplyDeleteHonestly I have some question on her views of the HS level education. She does not seem to understand todays middle/high school students but is does listen.
What views do you question? What does she not understand? (I'm a supporter, just curious if I've missed something.)
ReplyDeleteRe: "Maybe I'm picky, but if someone with children is going to run for the IPS School Board, ALL their kids should attend school in IPS."
ReplyDeleteDoesn't him NOT sending his kids too IPS show an intelligence not seen on the board currently? If he can afford to send them to Catholic school then why not send them there?
I don't mean to offend with above comment. I am just wondering why he shoudl subject his kids to the gang influence, drugs, disrepsect and profanity running rampant at IPS schools. (Yes, I work in IPS too.) It seems logical to not want to subject your kids to that if you can avoid it. It is not denying reality, it is acceptance of it and seeing it for what it is. (IMHO!)
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I spelled "should" incorrectly too.
ReplyDeletePossibly Mr. Schroeder sends his ONE child to parochial school because they offer what the child needs whereas IPS does not! His other child's needs can be fulfilled beautifully by IPS schools. I call this good parenting. Hooray for the Schroeder parents for putting their children first. There is no problem with good parenting - we need more of that!
ReplyDeleteI am curious: What does this statement mean?
ReplyDelete"who marches to the beat of the union drummer."
What views do you question? What does she not understand? (I'm a supporter, just curious if I've missed something.)
ReplyDeleteIn listening to her. I do not believe she understands the H.S. She does not seem to understand that at the H.S. level the parents are failing. They do not participate and many get mad when you force them to particate. She seems to think these kids are not pulled by their own work, their own problems, neighborhood problems, etc.
She is a very active parent and cannot understand that in IPS she is a rare. The types of students her kids go to school with is rare. When kids get older (at least in this district) parents start relying on the kids to bring in money and are not active.
In addition she does not seem to be a big proponent of athletics (I could be wrong) but just from the comments I have heard. I think if athletics is the hook than we need to keep them. Since, closing of the football program at Washington. I have watched and tried to stop (with no success) as three kids droped out and two others have shut down. She stated the time I met her that she agreed if kids were not participating the program should be shut down. There are small towns that have only 20 or less kids. Use comparable in enrollment figures before saying we need extreme numbers. Besides how much in tax funding will have to pay to support those kids on welfare over the years because we pulled the hook for them. Cut the coaching staff in half (of teams), cut the pay in half (without certain numbers) but keep the teams (hook). The community needs them in the long run.
These are cultural things that need to be changed (somehow) but at least acknowledge they exist of kids being pulled by other things at the HS level and parents relying on them.
Again, there are anough other positives for me to get my vote. I just hope she investigates (these are NOT the same students she went to HS with over at HOWE in the 90's).
IPS is a lot like that elephant examined by the three blind men, each describes the elephant based on what he felt touching a specific part, and unable to see the whole thing they didn't have a clear view of the whole. Within IPS there are schools that are doing a wonderful job, there are teachers who perform miracles, there are fabulous administrators who really care about kids, but there is also the other end of the spectrum. We need a board that knows this, and just doesn't blithely go along with any scheme presented to them. People who are willing to stand up to Dr. White when he is wrong. Schroeder has already done that when Dr. White called him a liar, and tried to sweep the issue under the rug. He returned the next meeting with the proof that what he said was true, something the board just blindly skipped over and Dr. White managed to miss, what an odd coincidence.
ReplyDeleteTo the poster two posts up, thank you so much for responding to my question. Your comments make a lot of sense.
ReplyDeleteINDIANAPOLIS — Already-sour relations between Indiana’s chief education policymaker and the state’s largest teachers’ union seemed to reach a breaking point Thursday morning.
ReplyDeleteBlaming a lack of support from teachers’ unions, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett said the state is ending its pursuit of as much as $250 million available through a competitive grant program funded by the federal stimulus package.
After missing the cut the first time, Indiana won’t submit an application in the second round of selections for the $4.4 billion Race to the Top program intended to help states advance ambitious education reforms.
Bennett, a Republican, said Indiana would not have stood a chance since its application would have lacked union support.
“I received notice yesterday that the Indiana State Teachers Association is unwilling to join me for an open and transparent discussion regarding union support for vital components of Indiana’s Race to the Top application,” Bennett said in a statement Thursday.
He was referencing a meeting he proposed for April 27, in which he would sit down with the leaders of Indiana’s two largest teachers’ unions to try and hash out their differences and agree on what to include in the Race to the Top application. Media were invited to attend, but Department of Education and teachers’ union staffers were not.
“Without support from the union that represents more than 90 percent of Indiana’s school districts, our application will not be competitively positioned. Therefore, Indiana will not apply for Phase 2 funding,” Bennett’s statement concluded.
I like what Forkner is saying and he will ask Eugene the hard questions.
ReplyDeleteI hate that the union puts itself in the position of anti-reform. I think the public gets the idea that most teachers don't believe in reform and/or don't want to be a part of reform. I think we may disagree on many particulars, but I think only a very small minority don't think there is much room for systemic improvement in Indiana education (as opposed to non-systemic variables such as funding, parent involvement, etc. that we can't control).
ReplyDeleteThe union did not put itself into the position. It was the Dr. Bennett who wanted a meeting with only the head of the union (no staff) and the media.
ReplyDeleteHe was going to try a bully tactic that would look worse if the meeting had happened. That type of media circus would have had no benefit except to make the teachers out to be the bad guy. Even worse than this announcment.
The real criminal in the room is Dr. Bennett and the IDOE and theier lack of diplomacy. The paper is anti-union and Dr. Bennett and his wife are charter proponents. So, we know the slant will always favor them in a STAR article.
They will not tell the total truth of the tactics being used towards educators by this administration (from Mitch down to Bennett and IDOE).
This has been an issue way longer than Bennett or Mitch. I'm in my thirties, and as long as I can remember, the teacher's union has been against every kind of systemic education reform I've ever read/heard suggested? Am I forgetting something they have supported? Can anyone else think of one? (Again, systemic reform, not society/funding reforms that would make the current system less need of reform.)
ReplyDeleteI don't think most educated people really believe the teacher's unions represent teachers anymore anyway. Sure, they represent politically far-left leaning teachers, but especially in states like Indiana, that's a minority of teachers. It's not like Mitch barely won.
ReplyDelete"I'm in my thirties, and as long as I can remember, the teacher's union has been against every kind of systemic education reform I've ever read/heard"
ReplyDeleteANY teacher that would be for reform that makes a student's test score the deciding factor on who gets to keep their job is an idiot. Kids don't care that ISTEP is this week? Why should they?? What's in it for them? Today's kids only know what they see and how they are rewarded. That's not a knock just a fact in this test-crazy environment. The mere fact that teachers allowed politicians to make teacher strikes illegal is a joke. Why have a union if you have little power in negotiating? People seem to forget cops and Peyton Manning belong to unions too! Big deal! We pay overpay mediocre athletes and entertainers all the time on OUR dime.
Okay, forget test scores. What other systemic reform do you or the union support?
ReplyDeleteJust in from the Indiana Business Journal: The Indiana Department of Education has withdrawn from round two of the Race to the Top federal grant program citing lack of support from the Indiana State Teacher's Union (ITSA). It gets worse: the ITSA declined to meet with Superintendent of Public Education Tony Bennet or his staff to discuss the application. To date, the state has cut $279 million from school budgets. Were Indiana to get a Race to the Top grant, Indiana stans to receive $250 million in funding, blunting the effects of the tax shortfall.
ReplyDeleteEditor's Note: One of the evaluation criteria for President Obama's Race to the Top program is union support and was a key item lacking in many of the states that lost in round one. Superintendent Bennett's decision makes sense as Indiana's Race to the Top proposal is doomed without support from the ITSA, which clearly is in left field on this issue.
You have to wonder how much more Indiana voters will take from the ITSA. Perhaps it's time for Indiana to consider something like Florida's Bill 6?
Fellow teachers, we are wasting our precious money when we pay union dues. I resigned two years ago, and I've not regretted my decision. Unless you're a marginal teacher who's just putting in hours, the union is little more than a rapist of teachers.
Re: "People seem to forget cops and Peyton Manning belong to unions too! Big deal! We pay overpay mediocre athletes and entertainers all the time on OUR dime."
ReplyDeleteWe are not cops, not athletes, not entertainers, not auto workers, not coal miners; we are professionals.
Act like a professional. Get over the union junk. If we don't like our employer, then we are professionals who can find another employer.
I personally don't want some 'bag of wind' union leader speaking for me. I will speak for myself at all times. If I should find myself needing assistance in dealing with my employer, then I'll hire an attorney.
WOW! I read both Dr. Bennett's letter to the ISTA and Nate Schnellenberger's reponse. I came away thinking Dr. B is an idiot to think that ISTA will blindly support everything he says without any input. His letter was demeaning and insulting to all who work in our noble profession. I love my job, but it's harder every day.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I never joined the union in the first place. I see them as more of an obstacle for professional teachers rather than an asset.
ReplyDeleteIt sucks that the union wouldn't even meet with him though, right? I mean that's a lot of money, and the union wouldn't even meet to discuss it. That just bugs me. Do you know what we as teachers could have done with that kind of money?
ReplyDelete"It sucks that the union wouldn't even meet with him though, right? I mean that's a lot of money, and the union wouldn't even meet to discuss it. That just bugs me. Do you know what we as teachers could have done with that kind of money?"
ReplyDeleteOk, is that what you really think? Please know the facts before you make such statements. The union wanted to meet to talk about the proposal, but Dr. Bennett wanted to conduct the meeting with little input from teacher representatives and with media in the room. How do you really have meaningful conversation about such an important topic in that manner? Did he really want to talk and work out the kinks or bully teachers into accepting it? Do you really think those teachers are not interested in securing the dollars as well? Come on...maybe you and some of the others that have so many opinions about unions should try and schedule a meeting and work it out...
Sounds like Tony got mad because they wouldn't play by his rules so he took his ball and went home. Deja vu? It's too bad that we can't all operate as though we have the same mission-educating the children.
ReplyDeleteTony was not going to have any of his staffers in the room either. Just the union leaders and himself (and media).
ReplyDeleteWhat rules would the union have played by?
ReplyDeleteI've been in IPS for eight years, and I've seen the union in action. Most of that union action was directed toward covering for some lame butt teachers who were griping, whining, and complaining because their principals had told them to do some hall duty, attend an after-school meeting, etc. Frankly, the only times I witnessed any union action was when some teacher complained about his/her supposed entitlements being abused. After a few years of watching this type union action, I decided to keep my money and leave the union. The straw that broke the camel's back was looking at fellow teachers wearing those awful black t-shirts with some union rant printed across the front and back. I wanted to disassociate myself from that image as quickly as possible.
ReplyDeleteWho do you think would be good for the IPS school board?
ReplyDeleteSamantha Adair-White is the wife of Jeffrey White. They have a child who attends IPS School 2 and they live in Butler-Tarkington. If we can't have Jeffrey, lets vote for her. If she wins, thats a slap to Dr. White's face. As for the at-large seat, Leroy Robinson is a Teacher. Therefore, another voice on the board.
ReplyDeleteAdair-White was on Afternoons with Amos and said nothing of any substance why she should be seated on the board. Nothing. At. All.
ReplyDelete"It sucks that the union wouldn't even meet with him though, right? I mean that's a lot of money, and the union wouldn't even meet to discuss it. That just bugs me. Do you know what we as teachers could have done with that kind of money?"
ReplyDeleteFirst the union would meet with Dr. Bennett. He wanted only the president and the media their. No staffers. That kind of tactic is only a bully tactic to make one side look bad.
The union was willing to meet and discuss (with staff from both sides there and NO media). That is kind of meeting iw when true bargaining occurs with give and take.
In terms of the Race to the Top money. It had strings. It can be used only for reform. Not to save jobs or current programs. So, the loss would not have effected the current budget cuts going on anyway. Except maybe those employees might have been eligible to work into into the new reform programs.
I am glad that the union stood up and said we are not putting our signature on the bottom of a blank paper. Not knowing what would be on it.
To others above who are leaving the union. Just try to hire a lawyer when you are falsely accused of something by a student or administrator. It is expensive(I had it happen during my 10th yr of teaching, I think god for the union. Finally came out that the kid was upset about a grade I gave them and made up the story to bribe me to change it. Without the union I could not have afforded known the legal rights to defend myself. The district sided with the parents saying they would rather error than be wrong. We ended up going after the parents and kid and of course got nothing because they had nothing. Did clear my name though.) Since that time I am finishing my second decade of coaching and teaching. I thank the union. Even if only used that once during my teaching career it was worth it.
Yes, there are things about the union I do not like. The idea though is to speak up and change things from within.
(BTW: It is 3 a.m. and I cannot sleep but am tired. Afer reading these comments tonight I had to reply. Usually don't! I am sure there are probably grammar errors and spelling errors in this post. Before others begin to get critical realize this is a sort of passionate response and tired. Forgive my errors that I am not seeing at this late hour and just look at content please.)
BTW: A down to earch and person who is not afraid to question Dr. White if you live in the district.
ReplyDeletePlease consider voting for Annie Roof. She would be a great asset to the board (she would not be a rubber stamp). She has a website (cannot think of the name though). Look it up to find information on her. I get the feeling from talking with her she would be a friend to the kids and staff. She does not seem to favor (from her rhetoric) the bully tactics currently being used by Dr. White.
This is just my opinion. She is running for an at-large seat on the board.
One of the questions put to the candidates at the MKNA Candidates forum Thursday was,
ReplyDeleteessentially, “If elected how did we plan to work with the Superintendent, Dr. White?”. I
disagree with the premise of the question. The Board is the boss. Dr. White, despite all
appearances, is an employee of IPS hired by the Board. The question then is, “How will
Dr. White work with the candidate who assumes the District 3 seat?”. It well past time
that the elected representatives of the voters and taxpayers in this district make clear it is
the administrators responsibility to work for the Board and not the reverse.
annieforschoolboard.com
ReplyDeleteI'm a parent, and I'm voting for annie because she's the only at-large candidate that acknowledges the contradiction that exists in IPS in complaining about lack of parental involvement while shutting out the concerns of involved parents and treating them with hostility. Every parent I know in IPS has encountered this issue, and yet she's the only candidate who even acknowledges the problem exists.
ReplyDeleteI want to clarify that my comment above was in regard to the at-large candidates only. I have read/listened to Mr. Schroeder and other district 3 candidates acknowledge this contradiction, but I'm not in district 3. :)
ReplyDeleteIndy Star Sunday print-only: Interview with Eugene White
ReplyDeleteWhat most concerns Dr. Eugene White, superintendent of Indianapolis Public Schools?
"How can we improve our reading programs so that we have better performance? How can we improve the culture of the school district to eliminate those negative variables that tend to contaminate or pollute the quality of instruction, the quality of the environment?
"I think about that a lot. I think about, how can we continue to provide the kind of programs that parents want and the students really want to take? How can we get the best quality of teachers for them?"
In an exclusive interview with Star columnist Matthew Tully, White touches on a wide range of subjects, from being raised by a single, teenage mother in Alabama, to his best and worst decisions while running Indiana's largest school district.
For the full interview, pick up the print edition of Sunday's Indianapolis Star.
Editorial from Star News...April 21st
ReplyDeleteRuben Navarrette
Teacher union blues
Teachers unions need a hug. After all, they're having a really bad year.
So bad that their members are lashing out -- blasting Education Secretary Arne Duncan after he questioned the effectiveness of teachers colleges, criticizing President Barack Obama for his approach to education reform, etc.
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One thing that rattled the unions was being marginalized by Obama after having supported his election with contributions and volunteers. They must have assumed that they were backing a defender of the status quo because during the campaign Obama had criticized No Child Left Behind, the Bush administration's signature education initiative. But once in office, Obama launched education reforms that were in the same spirit as NCLB. The unions must feel duped.
For instance, teachers unions bristled during the Bush years over an expanded federal role in public education, an overreliance on standardized tests to measure student performance, and an accountability system that threatened to shut down failing schools.
Obama continued the first two items. And, with regard to the third, he reconfigured the notion of accountability to focus on individual teachers. He wants to pay good teachers more than mediocre ones, and determine which is which by how students perform.
Meanwhile, some liberals -- perhaps emboldened by Obama's reforms -- are starting to scrutinize teachers unions. They include longtime journalist Carl Bernstein, who, in a cable television exchange that went viral on the Internet, verbally pummeled American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten. The confrontation took place after New York flunked out of the Obama administration's Race to the Top competition for hundreds of millions of federal education dollars because teachers unions refused to sign on to the state's action plan.
"The perception is that you all, over the years, have put job security in front of the welfare of kids," Bernstein told Weingarten. "There is something to that perception."
Yes, there is.
Teachers unions need to understand they're overplaying their hand. At a time when many Americans are out of work or taking furlough days or accepting pay cuts, there is little sympathy for organizations that -- by virtue of brute political force -- keep demanding more public money and less accountability without giving an inch.
The public schools operate on our dime. The students are our kids, and whether they succeed will help determine our country's future. This makes us major stakeholders who deserve to have a voice in how this enterprise goes forward
Who the Heck is Ruben Navarette? What does he know about the challenges of teaching? The utter lack of respect from the public, the students, our boss?
ReplyDeleteLeroy Robinson will be just another Bobble-head School Board member. He served on the Board from 2007-08 (he was appointed to serve when Olgen Williams resigned) and NEVER challenged or questioned the IPS administration and he NEVER voted against a recommendation. If you look at his contributors, they are all pals of Dr. White.
ReplyDeleteHis kids attend school in Pike, he teaches in Pike, and he seems more interested in self promotion than public service.
I attended the forum at #84 and listened to the candidates on Amos Brown--
ReplyDeleteAt the forum and on Amos--Josefa Beyer and Glen Sandifer came across as the most intelligent of the District 3 candidates and both seem to understand the issues. Josefa was strong in her support of teachers and public education but also admitted that the district is broken. The rest seemed rather clueless and very one dimensional.
On Amos--Ronnie Hampton and Annie Roof came across as the strongest candidates--very knowledgeable and very willing to challenge the status quo. I agree with the poster above who said Leroy Robinson seems more interested in self promotion, and Samantha Adair-White came across as a woman with a personal axe to grind.
I agree with the post above regarding Ronnie Hampton - he was articulate, plus he is an IPS parent who knows the issues.
ReplyDeleteOn Amos re/the at-large candidates who SHOWED up, Annie Roof came off disjointed, IMO. At one point, she was talking and completely forgot/lost her point mid-sentence.
Not Leroy Robinson! Lives in IPS, but kids attend Pike schools....Lives not far from Michael Brown....enough said!!!
ReplyDeleteThe thing about Annie is she's an IPS parent, not an education professional, professional speaker, professional writer, etc. She's obviously very intelligent, informed, and involved. So, as a fellow parent, when I heard her on Amos, all I could think was how much better she sounded than *I* would have sounded. But I agree that Hampton was more articulate.
ReplyDeleteI would like to say something here. I will put more information under the candidates forum. In regards to Amos Brown, yes I was very disjointed. First of all, I have never done radio. Secondly, I was unprepared. I did not hear about the radio show until 9pm the night before. When I was listening to the district three candidates, I heard Amos say the at-large candidates will be there the following day. That's how I found out. My address was incorrect at the election board, and I never received an invitation. I emailed Amos, and he was very kind, and told me I could attend, this was at 10pm. My days are filled taking care of my three year old, so yes, I was unprepared. And though I wish I had done a better job, I am proud of the job that I did. I went and did something completely out of my element, completely unprepared, knowing everyone else would be, in a room of strangers. And I did it because I believe in myself and the job that I could do and the difference I could make as a board member. Do not judge someone on those qualifications, simply because she lost her thought on a radio show.
ReplyDeleteI can not say a bad thing about the other candidates. I have met all but one, and they are wonderful people. Even though we are all competing against one another there is a comradery amongst us.
That being said, I became a candidate because I was already involved. I was already visible at the board meetings and have been for the last three years. I did not become involved because I became a candidate. If I do not win, I will still be there. I will still be standing up for our students, teachers, and parents. Where will everyone else be?
There were only ten people at the forum held at School 84. I am voting for Samantha Adair-White. Her daughter and my son attend IPS Center for Inquiry School 2. She is actively involved at School 2 and if she has an ax to grind, let the grinding begin.
ReplyDeleteRescind, eradicate, roll back the IPS raises
ReplyDeleteBy AMOS BROWN III
Published: Thursday, February 4, 2010 11:38 AM EST
The Indianapolis Board of School Commissioners voted last week to accept Superintendent Dr. Eugene White’s recommendation granting raises to four highly paid IPS administrators.
The School Board also voted to grant the superintendent a three percent raise.
Both actions by the IPS School Board were wrong.
The Indianapolis Public Schools aren’t Microsoft, Wal-Mart or Warren Buffett’s company. IPS, like nearly every school district in Indiana and many nationwide, and like many non-profits and for-profit entities, is facing severe economic pressures and stresses.
Indiana property tax caps are negatively impacting IPS’ transportation and maintenance budgets. And IPS’ loss of thousands of students in recent years, plus the Great Recession’s impact on state government revenues, has IPS facing between $20-$30 million in funding shortfalls.
IPS dodged scores of teacher layoffs this school year because of the one-time injection of federal stimulus money. This coming school year, IPS won’t be as fortunate.
IPS’ layoffs impact newer, younger teachers – many with the thrill and desire to teach using techniques and methods that engage today’s MTV/BET, Facebook, Wii-oriented, texting-tested students.
White said the four veteran IPS administrators deserved raises, pushing their salaries around $100,000 because they were taking on more responsibility.
Speaking Monday on WTLC-AM1310’s “Afternoons with Amos,” IPS Board President Michael Brown said the four administrators didn’t receive “raises.” Instead they were moving to “a different job responsibility with a different (higher) authorized salary.”
That may be true, but its semantics are not relevant to today’s economic realities.
How many of you reading this took on more responsibility at your job? Did you get a raise for that? If you’re like me and most Americans and Hoosiers, the answer is no.
When times were good, raises like those OK’d by IPS were fine. When times are hard, they’re an insult!
Board President Brown and White say that the other school districts pay their administrators more money. That keeping up with the Jones’ mentality doesn’t fly in these tough economic times.
In his State of the Union speech, President Barack Obama called out the nation’s colleges and universities, urging them to show restraint in their tuition and costs.
Our public schools should show the same restraint. In this era of tight school budgets, school administrations and school boards should show leadership and freeze administrative salaries and if the budget woes are tough, roll some of those salaries back until the fiscal crisis passes.
The media industry, including the media I work for, have had salaries and raises frozen, even rolled back to weather the economic storm. If we in media can do it, so can those in education.
IPS must roll back the raises, immediately!
I'm going to vote for Justin Forkner, because unlike 99% of the other candidates, he doesn't have a kid in IPS and doesn't have a one-school agenda.
ReplyDeleteAlso, he seems more capable of handling the pressure of $26 million dollar budget cuts.
Do you really want to allow someone who has NO experience with fiscal responsibility of a $580 million budget handling that money? For that matter, when they have their executive board meetings (closed doors) where Eugene White pressures the board into doing things that he wants to do, are the other candidates really going to stand up for what they believe for or just become a bobble-head for him like they always do.
For that matter, do you really want the PTA/PTO running the school board? Because that's what you have now. And that's what the PTA/PTO is for.
Finally, I don't want a school board commissioner who has the goals of sitting in the library reading to kids.
The site has been designed to meet the needs of visitorsbest school in north delhi who have an educational problem bogging them.
ReplyDelete